The Price We Pay For Improving

the420trooper

the420trooper

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It's funny, I went from being a very green newb to fairly knowledgable player in only about 3 years. When I first started going to my local pool room, I could barely draw the ball. After buying a zillion Accu-Stat tapes, countless books and magazines, trying 5 or 6 cues, and a LOT of practice, I finally have achieved a decent level of play.

The point is that when I couldn't run three balls, all the other players was friendly, anyone would play with me, and a couple of good players gave some valuable tips. After soaking up a lot of that information, I started beating players who used to torture me. Suddenly, a lot of people I used to play with would rather just practice, or are waiting for a buddy.

Why is it that when you finally get to a point where you're proud of your game, you seem to start alienating your friends? It seems that when you decide to take pool seriously, and start breaking and running out, all the social and semi serious players ostracize you.

I just thought I would mention another one of the sacrifices poolplayers must make in order to succeed.
 
when i play my not so great friends now i try extreme english, hard shots, putting a lot of power, or extreme slow rolling every ball (no sets).

some of them think i kinda suck
 
Are these folks you used to gamble with? A sudden jump in your speed could certainly cause a little dodging in a situation like that.
 
Most were people I used to donate to, but a couple were people I considered friends. I guess it's easy to like someone who is your punching bag. But when the bag starts hitting back, some people don't like it.
Click to expand...

look at the bright side - you've found out who you can say is a real friend and who isn't.
 
Well first of all, they are not your friends!

I had this happen too (people stopped wanting to play me) and I don't like it one bit. Basically if I want other people to play me for fun, I have to intentionally lose or play less than my ability.

So that is what I do... Lose, lose, lose. Then they want to play, play play!

BUT I have learned to have quite a bit of fun while losing and waiting for the other player to win (I play 8-ball mostly). I can help them win by missing a shot intentionally and leaving the cue ball so my opponent has an easy shot. Or missing my shot, and with the same shot getting the cue ball to break out my opponent's clusters. Or intentionally scratching so my opponent gets ball-in-hand. Etc.

Basically I practice position play or difficult shots while I am waiting for my opponent to win. If they are not a very good player, I "turn-off" my safety play.

With better players, I will give then one or two shots at the 8, then if they still have not made the 8, I will runout. (Lesson: Take your time and don't miss on the 8 or you will lose.) They seem to like this because they had a shot or two on the 8.

With better players than that, if they can runout (all their balls can be pocketed), I'll give them a couple of opportunities to runout. If they botch it on the second try, then I will runout. So this gives them a challenge to runout and not mess it up or else they will lose.

I do have one friend with who it is all out war. We both play at our best usually, safety battles and strategy used to the max. And I can win every game one night and he will keep playing and come back for more another night. Sometimes he will win every game and I just can't beat him.
 
Because

you have moved to a different 'competition level', you know it, and your friends know it, and nobody likes losing all the time. To them, it is a fun pasttime, to you, it has become more than that.

You need to play players your equal or better, and not bangers. I, hardly ever, play for Free. I have gambled my whole 46 years of playing, and I always play for something, down to $2 when I am hard up for a game, or playing a lessor player, to much higher stakes if the game is right.
It is not very hard to get a $5 a game of 9 ball or 8 ball, or playing real cheap like a race to 5 for $20 if that's what you're comfortable with.

The only time I really proposition a game is on a Challenge table, probably
98% of the other time to match up, I get asked by someone. After awhile,
most players need another incentive, motivator, to get better than just beating someone for Free, that's why people match up or play tournaments. Besides, getting money for your playing is like a reward for all the hard work you have put into it.

It is just starting to get into your blood, but when it gets there, it will be there for a long long time .... LOL
 
Yeah i know doesnt it suck that once your money became thier money, they dont want to give it back....

Players would acctually call you to see if you were coming down to the room, as soon as you get better they never want to be there when you are there.........
 
the420trooper said:
I just thought I would mention another one of the sacrifices poolplayers must make in order to succeed.
Click to expand...

Those who sacrifices, and practice, practice, practice, do get better. I tend to judge players ability by how they actully play, not how they say they play.











beatdeadhorse.gif
 
real friends cheer you on and dont try to bring you down.

I bet they try to bogart your 420 action too...
 
They don't like the extra chair time. Now that you are better they can't show off to you any more and it is costing them money to sit instead of playing.
 
Snapshot9 said:
you have moved to a different 'competition level', you know it, and your friends know it, and nobody likes losing all the time. To them, it is a fun pasttime, to you, it has become more than that.

You need to play players your equal or better, and not bangers. I, hardly ever, play for Free. I have gambled my whole 46 years of playing, and I always play for something, down to $2 when I am hard up for a game, or playing a lessor player, to much higher stakes if the game is right.
It is not very hard to get a $5 a game of 9 ball or 8 ball, or playing real cheap like a race to 5 for $20 if that's what you're comfortable with.

The only time I really proposition a game is on a Challenge table, probably
98% of the other time to match up, I get asked by someone. After awhile,
most players need another incentive, motivator, to get better than just beating someone for Free, that's why people match up or play tournaments. Besides, getting money for your playing is like a reward for all the hard work you have put into it.

It is just starting to get into your blood, but when it gets there, it will be there for a long long time .... LOL
Click to expand...

Listen to the man.
 
Johnnyz86 said:
when i play my not so great friends now i try extreme english, hard shots, putting a lot of power, or extreme slow rolling every ball (no sets).

some of them think i kinda suck
Click to expand...

I do that to. When I play against friends, I never play serieous. Just use the extreme english and make the pot much harder, and miss the shot. But the most important thing, is I'm having fun. The only problem is, I can't get my focus back when playing serious. It's just horrible. I was getting better, but lost it by playing very loose. It will take some time to get back.:(
 
When I first started out, I had people walking up to me and making games to rob me.

Now, two years and a great deal of improvement later, I have people walking up to me and asking for the nuts to rob me.
 
the420trooper said:
It's funny, I went from being a very green newb to fairly knowledgable player in only about 3 years. When I first started going to my local pool room, I could barely draw the ball. After buying a zillion Accu-Stat tapes, countless books and magazines, trying 5 or 6 cues, and a LOT of practice, I finally have achieved a decent level of play.

The point is that when I couldn't run three balls, all the other players was friendly, anyone would play with me, and a couple of good players gave some valuable tips. After soaking up a lot of that information, I started beating players who used to torture me. Suddenly, a lot of people I used to play with would rather just practice, or are waiting for a buddy.

Why is it that when you finally get to a point where you're proud of your game, you seem to start alienating your friends? It seems that when you decide to take pool seriously, and start breaking and running out, all the social and semi serious players ostracize you.

I just thought I would mention another one of the sacrifices poolplayers must make in order to succeed.
Click to expand...


I've got the opposite problem. While I'm still trying to get my game together and I'm a little proud of my game, it seems that I have more people asking me to play (practice) now than I did when I first started playing.

I try to spread my playing time around and still get in some personal serious practice time (the best way to learn how to execute).

For some reason no one likes it when we're playing a match and I miss a shot and keep setting it back up for a second and third try. :confused: :D

JoeyA
 
Billy_Bob said:
I do have one friend with who it is all out war. We both play at our best usually, safety battles and strategy used to the max. And I can win every game one night and he will keep playing and come back for more another night. Sometimes he will win every game and I just can't beat him.
Click to expand...
Now that is true friend! You both share a passion for the game and love the competition and satisfaction for beating one another. I had a friend like that until he moved to Cincinnati with his fiance. I'm happy for his new start on life but miss him dearly.

Mike
 
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